Naomi Osaka arrived at her Wimbledon opening match wearing a traditional, full-length kimono adapted to satisfy the tournament’s strict all-white dress code. The four-time major champion, who defeated Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5, stated that the garment served as a tribute to her Japanese culture and heritage.
The 28-year-old drew inspiration for the outfit from the character portrayed by Lucy Liu in the film Kill Bill. Osaka navigated the grounds in the ensemble, drawing significant attention from fans during her walk to an outside court. She noted that while she enjoys making fashion statements, wearing unique outfits adds a specific type of pressure to perform well, as she wants to justify the effort put into her look.
Osaka, who has returned to the world’s top 20 following the 2023 birth of her daughter, remains focused on progressing beyond the third round at the All England Club for the first time. She plans to continue exploring different styles throughout the tournament, though she expressed a desire to keep her wardrobe selections fresh for upcoming matches.
